Angels GM defends offseason decisions

Angels general manager Tony Reagins will go to spring training hoping some players on the team rebound after last year's disappointing performances. CLICK ON THE PHOTO for more scenes of Reagins through the years.JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM - Criticism in the baseball media has been nearly universal thanks to the amplification of the Internet. And the disenchantment among the team's fan base has been resounding.

But Angels GM Tony Reagins refuses to even acknowledge his offseason has been a disappointment, let alone the disaster it has been characterized as in some of the more hyperbolic reactions.

"No, not disappointed at all," Reagins said, acknowledging the criticism as part of the job after failing to sign either of the team's top free-agent targets this winter – Carl Crawford and Adrian Beltre.

"When you go and make an offer that you're comfortable with and you feel is fair and don't get the player, you turn the page and move on. That's part of the free-agent process."

The Angels might have been "comfortable" with the offers they made to both Crawford and Beltre. But both appear to have fallen woefully short of landing either impact player in an offseason that saw free-agent prices rise the moment Jayson Werth signed with the Washington Nationals for a market-altering seven years and $126 million.

The Angels' offer to Crawford topped out at that figure (with the final year an $18-million option). He signed with the Red Sox for $16 million more (guaranteed).

The Angels' comfort level with Beltre appeared to stretch only to five years and $70 million despite their obvious need at third base. He signed with the Rangers for an additional $10 million guaranteed - $26 million more if a vesting option for a sixth season kicks in.

Refusing to discuss either negotiation specifically, Reagins did say the spread between the Angels' offers and what those players eventually signed for "has not been reported accurately" and isn't as great as those figures would indicate.

Nonetheless, the lingering perception is that the Angels either misread the free-agent market or were too inflexible to adjust their offers when Werth's contract changed the landscape.

"As far as what other clubs did and how other clubs value a player, that's out of our control," Reagins said. "You just put your best foot forward and, as I've said before, if a player wants to be an Angel and we're willing to pay that player for his performance, then that player will be an Angel.

"You have to be flexible in certain situations. Obviously, there's a negotiation aspect. But you have to maintain yourself at a place in the marketplace where you feel comfortable."

With five weeks to go before spring training, the Angels might emerge from the offseason with their comfort intact, but Reagins has also been unable to do anything to address an offense that experienced a 202-run dropoff in 2010, the largest drop in the majors.

"We pursued some opportunities that did not pan out but we will be a better club offensively," Reagins said, citing the return of Kendry Morales as well as expectations of bounce-back seasons from a number of other players.

"The names and faces may be similar but our expectation is that the performance will be better. We put some very strong offers out there in a couple situations that it made sense for us to target. We weren't able to add those players. That's free agency. You move on."

If the Angels move on to other targets in the thin pool of remaining free agents, the most potent hitters left by most measures would be former Angel Vladimir Guerrero and another aging DH, Jim Thome. Neither fit into the Angels' plans for 2011, which inlcude Bobby Abreu ticketed for DH duty.

Short-term, low-cost additions like unsigned free agents Scott Podsednik or Jorge Cantu are more likely at this point.

"I'm looking at our club and I'm very optimistic for success in 2011 with the guys we have," Reagins said. "That we can control. We can control preparing our players to play up to their capabilities and I'm looking forward to a successful season in 2011."

Related Links

Angels general manager Tony Reagins will go to spring training hoping some players on the team rebound after last year's disappointing performances. CLICK ON THE PHOTO for more scenes of Reagins through the years. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Angels GM Tony Reagins and manager Mike Scioscia, above, will go to spring training hoping some players on the team rebound after last year's disappointing performances. FILE PHOTO
Angels general manager Tony Reagins is seen during spring training baseball in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Feb. 19, 2010. AP PHOTO
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, center, talks with Angels owner Arte Moreno, left, and Angels general manager Tony Reagins before announcing the Angels will host baseball's 2010 All-Star game, at a news conference at Angel Stadium May 28, 2008. AP PHOTO
Angels owner Arte Moreno, right, celebrates with general manager Tony Reagins after the Texas Rangers lost to Seattle Mariners following the Angels victory over the New York Yankees, allowing the Angels to clinch the American League West title on Sept.. 10, 2008. AP PHOTO
Angels owner Arte Moreno, left, greets catcher Mike Napoli, right, as general manager Tony Reagins, center, looks on during baseball spring training in Tempe, Ariz., Feb. 14, 2009. AP PHOTO
Hideki Matsui, center, poses with manager Mike Scioscia, right, and Tony Reagins Dec. 16, 2009, in Anahiem. Matsui and the Angels agreed to a $6 million, one-year contract. AP PHOTO

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